Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-25
THE FASHIONS.
NOTES OF VALUE AND INTEREST TO
THE LADIES.
Many seasonible Suggestions in the Way
Of Novelties-christmas
Shopping, &C.

NEw YORK, December q, 1887.

lIOfTc.VohNturto inc hlCntuOnd DltphtCusl
NEW YORK, December q, 1887.
Indoor dress this season seems to be
very plain as to materials and quiet as to
colors. These qualities-plainness and
quietness-are very essential to taste
full indoor dress.
Dressy effects are secured mainly
through the medium of the drapery.
This is made as full. deep, and soft as it
can be without interfering with the COM
pact outline of the dress
Olive-green, gobelin- blue, seal and
golden-brown are among the many APP
propriate shades for indoor dress, and
these costumes are usually all in one
color. The trimming-usually slight
may be, however, OF different shade.
For very simple indoor toilets no
style is so graceful as the princess. This
form OF dress sets off the figure TO adj
vantage, requires practically no trim
ming, and has just enough of a ncgtige
air about it to look very home-like.
This is, however, most appropriate for
the earlier hours of the day. For after
noon here are two models, either OF
which is neat and suitable:
The principal material used in the first
is wide-striped camel's-hair cloth. This
soft and graceful fabric forms a long po-
lonaise, made to clothe the upper part of
the figure closely. but draping IN ex-
quisite folds from the waist down. The
lower edge is, rs one might say, unfn
ished-that is, the two sides are drawn
squaroly away from the opening, raising
gradually toward the back. The polo
nase forms, as usual, its own drapery,
which is bOu6dm upon the hips A
rather large hustle is worn with the cos
tune in order TO secure better effects in
this drapery. There is slight decora-
ton of cord passmenterie down the
side, and the dress fastens with large
plaided cloth buttons. The skirt is OF
heavy, smooth lead-gray cloth, laid in
narrow clusters of plaits.
The second dress shows no skirt at all.
The drapery, front and rear, covers it
entirely, with the exception Of the mar
row foot-ruiile around the edge. This
dress is OF clear dark-Green cloth, and
the close-fitting basque is covered with
intricate designs in braid applique.
Bands of this braid embroidery are like
wise employed in facing the folds OF the
side drapery. The tG6ijcr which joins
these folds at the sides is laid in deep
creases, but falls TO the bottom-back
drapery, not so full as in the dress last
described.
Both of these costumes are entirely
suitable for the reception of visitors, and
are therefore particularly to be COM
mended as home dresses. She is for
tunate woman who is GiUGyS ready to
receive callers. A good house-dress has
this great advantage.
Little jaunty plush toques, with bands
OF fur, ere sent with street costumes for
Young ladies' 10 match their trimmings.
Set nattily upon a wel-arranged "bang"
one of these head-coyerings looks very
fascinating.
1t may seem derogatory 70 the dignity
of boyhood, but little chaps in trousers
are wearing full plush vests with rolling
collars inside their leather belts. very
closely resembling tue vests of their lit
tie sisters.
Christmas presents for the little ones
are chiefly in the form of mechanical
TOYS this season. Some of them arc ex-
tremely clever, exhibiting striking evil
dcnces Of the ingenuity OF the Yankee
mind. There is an automatic bear (who
loses nothing Of his foreclosures from
being clad in seal-skin) who walks when
wound up. His gait is exceedingly ma
tural. lie has that singular sIde-long
motion peculiar TO Bruin. In addtion to
his walking movements he snaps his
Jaws in a truculcnt manner delightful to
the infantile mind.
Then there are amusing fn6ieGur III
uaats-boxes in the form Of small pro-
scenium arches. with moving figures
within. One of these, "the Sunny
South" represents a pair OF colored
folks who do a comic dance by the aid
of clock-work. Similar mechanism I'M
parts lile.like gestures to the pink legs
Of another figure termed 1.-THE Ballet
Dancer"
Juvenile banks are in great variety,
and some of them are funny enough TO
cntice perfect showers Of pennies into
their iron receptacles.
Christmas cards are giving way to lit
tie books Of five or SIX pages, with hand
some covers and fine Typography, which
have poems by popular writer's printed
in them.
Articles Of rjrtu and brjc-a-brdc, with
all kinds of little triAes for home deco
ration, are among the most popular pre-
sents among ladies' Very large sums
are paid for bits Of old or rare china,
handsome lamps, SCUrfs, vases, and
similar articles.
As usual, to-day will be marked by
the general distribution among their
masculine friends, 10y all young ladies,
of " hand-embroi1ered " or "hand-
painted trifes of their own production.
They are valued tokens Of regard, the
depth Of the feeling being apparently
measured by the amount Of work be-
slowed upon them.
Older people are exchanging compl-
ments in the form Of services of plate,
tea or dinner-sets, etc. and that Jew
elry is always an acceptable gift goes
without saying c. h. NJ.